230 SIR CHARLES BELL ON THE ORIGIN AND COMPOUND FUNCTIONS 



the hand is insensible to the pressure of affection, then the chest rises high at 

 each inspiration, and the muscles of inspiration are prominent in action. 



When, through increasing insensibility, the limbs lie relaxed and powerless, 

 the muscles of the shoulders, neck, throat, and nostrils, are visibly excited, and 

 at each inspiration (although we cannot say there is effort, that being an in- 

 fluence of the mind), yet each fibre of the class of respiratory muscles is like a 

 cord in violent tension. 



When the decay of life reaches the respiratory system, it fii'st affects the 

 lesser muscles which expand the air-tubes, the muscles of the glottis and vdum 

 palati lose their tone, and these parts becoming relaxed, vibrate in the inspira- 

 tion of the breath, and cause stertor. 



At length the regularity of the respiration is disturbed — there is an inter- 

 val between the inspiration — the interval is prolonged and kregular, and the 

 action returns with sudden violence, every muscle starts convulsively into action, 

 but with no voluntary effort or struggle. The longer the interval of rest, the 

 more sudden and startling is the return of action, and when we deem all 

 at rest, once more the breath is drawn. At last the action ceases in the chest, 

 whilst yet the throat and cheeks are pulled with a regular succession of actions, 

 and the last fibre which answers to the presence of hfe, is the Risorius Sancto- 

 I'ini and muscles of the nostril. Two or three times the Risorius is drawn with 

 spasmodic twitchings, and then all is still. It is the ultima moriens. 



We can hardly miss noticing the resemblance here to natural sleep, the ab- 

 sence of all sense and voluntary motion, and the continuance of the respiration 

 by a property of action which knows neither lassitude nor debility. 



In a Society which does not reject the cultivation of literature with science, 

 I may be permitted to quote the beautiful description of Haller : " Nocte re- 

 deunte sensim torpor percipitur in musculis longis, ineptitude ad cogitationes se- 

 veriores, amor quietis in animo et corpore. Tunc peculiariter vires corpus erec- 

 tum tenentes laborant, et oculi nolentes clauduntur, et maxilla inferior pendet, 

 et oscitationis necessitas ingruit, et caput antrorsum nutat, et objectorum exter- 

 norum actiones minus nos adficiunt, et denique turbantur idese," &c. 



But, whilst the body, as far as it is subject to the mind, or subject to change 

 through the will, or through passion, is thus at rest, a class of muscles of great 

 extent, seated remote from each other, are combined in simultaneous action. No 

 weariness or exhaustion reaches them. They are most perfect, most regular in 

 action, whilst all besides are at rest. 



Thus, we may contemplate the body under two conditions : First, Where all 

 is animated, sensitive, and expressive : Secondly, Where the body has the sem- 

 blance of death, and the active powers are at rest. It is natm-al to seek in the 

 anatomy, and especially in the nervous system, for some correspondence in the 

 structure : nor shall we have far to seek. 



